Pennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening.

Government Accountability

General reassembly

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2006

The York Daily Record series of editorials on the merits of a state Constitutional Convention and other governmental reforms.

Media

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Government Accountability

House limits access to roll calls during session

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2006

UPDATED: According to Capitolwire.com, access to roll call votes have been restored and The Speaker also wrote the House is exploring ways “to provide the public with real time access…

Media

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Government Accountability

Judge sues to refuse pay raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin’s lawsuit to not have her pay raised. I guess she doesn’t agree with Chief Justice Cappy that judges are…

Media

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Government Accountability

A Tale of Two GOPs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2006

Wall Street Journal editorial points out that Republicans are in strong shape in places where they stuck to the conservative principles they campaigned on (Florida) and are in deep…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Teachers walk the picket line

  • October 3, 2006

The labor union in Littlestown are striking over health care. Currently, teachers pay only 2.6% of the premium for their health care benefits. The school board wants them…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Union Slams Proposed Teacher Strike Ban

  • October 3, 2006

With a teacher strike currently occuring in Adams County, the effort to ban teacher strikes in Pennsylvania is building steam. Despite the fact that 38 other states prohibit government…

Media

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Government Accountability

Lame ducks ruffle feathers in 3 statehouses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2006

Stateline.org article on Lame Duck legislatures. Guess which state is the leader in post-election shenanigans.

Media

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Government Accountability

The Incumbents We Need

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 26, 2006

Pennsylvania’s 2006 elections will go down in the history books as one in which citizens overturned the apple cart of many incumbent state legislators. While many career politicians are already…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

‘Smart Talk’ on pay raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

Alison Hawkes summary of Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of the judicial pay raise: “He said judges needed a pay hike because salaries were slipping compared to other states, although…

Media

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Government Accountability

Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with feds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2006

AP Report that court adminstrators say PA judges pay are now tied to federal judges. While this differs from my reading of the court ruling on cost-of-living-adjustments, and…

Media

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Government Accountability

The Know-Nothing Campaign

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2006

Nick Gillespie column on the absurdity of the McCain-Feingold free speech regulations which bans mentioning of candidates in ads within 60 days of an election. We don’t want voters…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

New Legislation to End Teacher Strikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2006

Legislation introduced by Rep. Will Gabig would ban teacher strikes similar to laws in Michigan and New York. This legislation is supported by our friends at StopTeacherStrikes, Inc.

Media

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Government Accountability

Lack of evidence to support raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2006

Scranton Times-Tribune editorial takes on Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of a judicial pay raise.

Media

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Education

Editorial: PHEAA should open books or lose monopoly

  • September 20, 2006

DelcoTimes suggests “If PHEAA doesn’t want to open its books, the state should open its doors to competition in the student loan field. Then residents can compare organizations and…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

What to do About the Transportation Crisis?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2006

The Pennsylvania Transportation and Funding Reform Commission is currently holding hearings on the funding “crisis” in transportation. From 1995-96 to 2005-06, while inflation increased 28%, transportation spending in the state…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Judicial Pay After Court Ruling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2006

Here is what PA judges will make following the court ruling reinstating the judicial pay raise: http://mail.comfdnprod.wpengine.com/judgespay.pdf…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Forced speech atrocity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2006

Dimitri Vassilaros column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the Washington state lawsuit on whether unions can use mandatory dues for political activity, without consent of the dues paying member.

Media

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